River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-12-15

closed eyes and trembling mouth, feeling
that friend aud not Death kept watch
above him. Nathan felt the stone in his
hand and he made motion to thrust ii
away from him. He rose. il was getting
late and chilly, be would 90 TO bed. He
went inside aud buttoned the door.
Every thing as dark, and as he went
toward the Ec atch-safe, near which his
candle stood his face touched something
soft and warm. 1t was Matty's shawl
which hung on a nail near the matches.
The candle was lighted and Nathan went
to his room and sat on the edge of his bed.
The passion had gone from his face and
left il pale and weary. sHit's been a
hard fight, but / amt whipped yit," be
said, as he began to unite his shoes. "An'
Pm blamed il Pm agoin' TO be-" Once
more the fare of anger was in his face.
"Hit's the fust chance in all these years
Pve had TO git even; but Pm just as lone
some an no count as 1 ever was" Like
the Pickering rays of a candle passion was
gone again. "Hit must be about mid
night, an ain't sleepy one bit. 1 wisht
Matty'd a-stayed up longer, that would a
sorter bOlstered me up. ! amt good for
nothin' by myself"
Both shoes were united now, but he did
not let them slip from his feet. He made
no further effort at undressing himself,
but leaned over and rested his head on the
pillow. Ii was very soft TO his tired head,
but he could not sta y so. He sprang bolt
upright and sat there for a moment, then
he slowly pulled his silver watch out of
his pocket and look ed at il. PAS mid
night" he said, with a sigh. Then he
rose, took his candle and Went into the
PASSAGE way to the nail where Matty's
shawl was hanging. He took the shawl
down, blew out his candle and crept
softly out the front door. On he went,
through the still, dark night down the
lonely roadway and across the broad
fields, his heart throbbing and every
nerve strained TO the highest tension. He
listened, and listened, and longed for that
voice; he crossed the foot-b bridge over the
creek and heard aga the sobbing in the
water, then he quickened his steps till his
breath came short, and in the corn field
be was obliged to stop for rest. He drew
near the spot and all was quiet. A hope
came to him, perhaps the boy had been
found and was asleep in his mothers
arms. But this hope died and left cold
mixing in his heart when he peered
through the fence and saw a dark little
figure lying close beside it. The story
was easy to read. After long watchin &
and calling through the bars this home
less, tired little lamb had fallen and slept.
A baby all day and all night without
home, without mother and W thout food.
Nathan felt it all, and he leaped the fence
and touched the child's cald face and
hands, and listened for his breathing;
boy and took him gently in his arms. 1t
was harder work to climb the fences ana
walk through the fields now, but was ever
a burden sweeter and hOlierf
There were ninety-nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold,
But one had wandered far away
To the desert so lone and cold.
81 dom know what makes tn ON lines
keep a-runnin' in my head now" Nathan
thought. "That lamb blodged to the
shepherd, an hyer 1 am totin' mother
mans lamb jest for no reason ON the arth
but me not havin' pluck to leave it lone"
Baby StaffOrd's arms frightened round
Nathan's neck. ~ dom know what's the
matter with me. Niggers amt got no re-
spec fer me jest cause Pm so easy-goin'
with 'em. But l never'd a thought I'd a
toted Stafford's boy home fer HMM the
night, too. If I'd been half man I'd a
shot Ezra years ago. Thar | was in the
woods that night, amin square at him,
an the trigger already pulled, when all at
onct l went limp as a rag, an sneaked
outen the woods like I'd been a-steai in. l
tried TO git Ezra to fight, but he wouldn't;
so tole Jim I'd shoot him some day, an
he might look out fer me-"
Nathan had walked long distance with
his little burden, and his arm was getting
tired. So he tried gently to move the boy
to the other side. The little one stirred,
but did not wake from it's deep sleep of
exhaustion. The curls nestled up under
Nathan's hair, and curious sensation
stirred his heart. The journey was nearly
over now. These were Ezra's fences past
which he walked. He was holding Baby
Stafford in his arms for the last tims n
all his life. Perhaps he should never again
lock upon that innocent face lying against
his own. He stopped and kissed the boy
once, and then again.
s'Hit's Jest like me- he sighed. al never
was fifteen to have no family, cause / amt
abe TO fight for its honor. let Ezra in
suit me an kill my boy. an hyer I am
totiu' his baby home and stealin' kisses
frum it--an' wuss'n that I'm a-lovin' TO
feel 1t in my arms an a-wIshin' il was
mine. l reckon | was born a coward, an
it's a-growin' on me as | gets older" He
had reached the stile that crossed Ezra's
yard fence, and be sat down here
to rest his tried body, but for his weary
heart there was norest. Poor Nathan had
outraged all his ideas of manhood, and he
seated himself, now sell-bra lded as mo
count" and a coward. In his abasep' .
his soul went out 10 the child in his AIMS,
and for one bitter, despairing moment he
reve'ed in his degradation. He kissed the
boy over and over again, pressed the curly
head closer TO his face, and twining the
arms around his neck. IL was a moment
of passion, but it was the passion most
natural to Nathan's heart.
The dawn was coming, and he must go.
He crossed the stile and went toward the
house. a light was burning in the win
dow, for Ezra was keeping an anxious
watch within and without. Nathan
knocked boldly at the door, and had not
Ong to wait; in an instant Ezra stood in
the doorway, before him.
"Hyer's Baby"
II was soon over; Nathan and Baby had
parted. The boy was in his fathers arms
and Nathan was alone again.
''An' you brung Jim, Nathan-youw
Nathan backed down the steps into the
yard but Ezra held out his hand and
said:
''Come in, Nathan, they's sump'n'
want to say to yer"
''No, they amt nothin' l want o. you
now, Ezra, 'cept TO asst IL Mis- Stafford's
agoing t. git well agin."
He was leaning dejectcdly against the
bannisters of the porch, and Ezra could
see the palor of his face in the early morn.
ing ight.
eyes, 1 reckon she will nolo, Nathan.
Come in a BIT. "
Ezra stopped and kissed his boy, and
Nathan turned in bitter loneliness from
the sight.
mo, not me-" be answered. "rm
agoin' now, an remember Ezra, Pm a.
hatn' you jest as bad as ever done This
amt no peace maxim twixt you an me.
Yo' boys hyer, and mines yonder-that's
the difference betwixt us; an l reckon
that's bout the way hit'll stay till Pm a.
iayin' by Harry"
Nathan, come back"'
But he was gone. The day for the reap.
ing IN the melon field had dawned, and
each man must be about his own business.
Helen r. Kendrick, ia ". \. Independent.
Some Wealthy GYpsies.
! have no doubt that q half million
Is Il ,,,sI1s,, onI h,fF ,,o